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The Journey - October 24, 2013

Luke 22:7
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

The day came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. What a statement Luke makes! In this sixteen word sentence, he takes us all the way back to Exodus and then brings us back…to the cross.

In Exodus 12, the nation of Israel was getting ready to move out of Egypt after 400 years of slavery. The last meal before they left was to be a lamb prepared according to God’s specific instructions. They were to take the blood of the slaughtered lamb and paint it on their doorposts. The Angel of Death would be coming to strike down the firstborn sons in Egypt. But the Angel would pass over all the homes where the blood was applied and spare the life of the firstborn. The Israelites never forgot that night. They never forgot the saving power of the blood of the lamb.

But now, as Luke ends his gospel, it was time for the blood of another lamb to be applied. The Passover lamb was a great reminder; the Passover Lamb was the Great Redeemer. When John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” he was not referring to His meekness. He was getting us ready for the saving work of Jesus. When we trust in Jesus—His death to pay the penalty of our sins—His blood is applied to us. Our sins are forgiven. We are declared righteous before God. Because Jesus rose again, His resurrection is applied to us as well. We pass from death to eternal life. Thank God for the Passover Lamb!

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus—our Passover Lamb—to die in our place and pay the penalty for our sins. Words cannot express our eternal gratitude. We desire to thank You with our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.